Liquid dispensing roller



Jan. 8, 1952 E. M. KING LIQUID DISPENSING ROLLER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1947 INVENTOR. Earle/liking BY I Jan. 8, 1952 E, KlNG 2,581,674

LIQUID DISPENSING ROLLER Filed Feb. 8. 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. Earle M King jliwztmt Patented Jan. 8, 1952 LIQUID DISPENSiNG ROLLER Earle M. King, Salinas, Calif., assignor to Gabilan Iron and Machine 00., Salinas, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 8, 194?, Serial No. 727,429

- 1 This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an implement supporting roller formed as a liquid reservoir'and arranged with novel means to deliver liquid from the roller to another point on the implement. As an example, the invention may be used on an automatic planting machine to supply water to the plants deposited in the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing roller, as above, which serves not only to supply liquid for use on the implement, but also supports one end of the same and acts as a very eifective clod breaking and soil packing instrumentality.

A further object of the invention is to embody, in assembly with the roller, a novel liquid elevating arrangement operative, upon advance of said roller, to elevate water from below the roller axis and to'deliver said water for discharge from one end of the roller at said axis.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical liquid dispensing roller, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed. "Theseobjects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

'In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the roller, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the roller taken on line 2 -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation of an implement embodying the present invention. a

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the roller is indicated generally at I, and comprises a hollow drum having end walls 2 and 3; the end wall 3 being offset axially inwardly somewhat relative to the adjacent end of the roller.

The roller is formed with a tubular axle 4 which projects, at opposite ends, some distance beyond the end walls 2 and 3, and is there carried in journals 5 supported from the side beams 6 of the main implement frame, indicated generally at 1. In addition to its other functions, the roller provides the supporting means for one end of said main frame 1.

Outwardly of the roller end Wall 3, and formed in part with the projecting end portion 8, the roller includes a plurality of elongated, circumferentially extending liquid pick-up chambers 9; said chambers being four in number in the pres- 10 Claims. (01. 222-167) I 2 ent embodiment, and equally spaced about the roller adjacent its periphery.

The roller turns in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and at their leading ends the chambers 9 communicate with the interior of the hollow roller l bymeans of'ports H3 in the end wall'3.

At their trailing ends, and on the radially innermost side, the chambers 9 are formed with ports H which communicate with radially inwardly extending conduits l2; there being a ball check valve unit [3 in each conduit. 1 The ball check valve units !3 open away from the ports H and function in the manner hereinafter described.

At the end opposite the ball check valve unit it, and adjacent the port it, each chamber 9 is fitted with another check valve unit M which closes in a direction away from said chamber, i. e. opens to permit air entry into the corresponding chamber at a predetermined time, as will be hereinafter described.

At their inner ends the conduits l2 connect with an annular, feed reservoir l5, formed in surrounding relation to'the tubular axle '4' adjacent and outwardly of the end wall 3. The annular, feed reservoir l5 communicates with the tubular axle 4 through openings [6 in the latter.

A stationary fitting ll projects through a packing' gland l8 in the end portion of the tubular axle 4- adjacent the reservoir l5; liquid from said reservoir being adapted to deliver therefrom, through the openings 16 into the axle 4, and thence out through the stationary fitting IT. From the fitting l'l liquid delivers through an outlet conduit l9 which connects to a pipe system 29 having a valve 2! interposed therein.

At the end portion opposite the stationary fitting l'! the tubular axle 4 is provided with an end head or closure 22, and at said end the axle 4 is fitted with a stub shaft 23 adapted to drive an endless chain and sprocket unit, indicated in part at 24. The unit 24 can be employed to drive, in a positive manner and in timed relation to ground speed, a mechanism on the implement main frame 7, such as a planting wheel assembly (not shown). I

Beyond the valve 2| in the pipe system 20 liquid is delivered from said system for its intended use, as for example: to. discharge into the furrow formed by a furrow opening shoe 25, as is incorporated ina planting machine; the planting mechanism working to deposit the plants in said furrow. i The ='roller --will be described, by Way of example, as it is used to dispense water in an automatic planting machine.

At the outset a quantity of water is placed in the hollow roller I through a filler opening of any convient type. While the water line in the roller is above its axis, the Water feeds by gravity through the ports I 0, chambers 9, and conduits I 21;. into the: feedfreservoir l; and? thence into the -tubular axle 4' and out'of the roller in the manner previously described.

However, when the water line in the roller-*lfalls below the axis thereof, as for; example-at 26 in Fig. 2, the dispensing mechanism funcf tions as follows:

As each reservoir reaches-station :A it*is fil=led" Between? stations 5C;and.1-D eachtchamberl 9' remains empty; the: corresponding check; valve unit 1 3fjbeirrgiclosedgbyJthe water. pressure from feed reservoir 15. exerted through the: corresponding; conduit: I2: asc'sai'd; chamber reaches station D," b'otli: cl'ieckzvalve units l.3::andf M being. closed hy tlrevtime the chamber- 3 passes: below the water: line -26% forrefilling. through: the correspondrr'rgzport 1H1; By. thetime 6816110118113];- ber reaches'athe: bottom of' the.-roller'; it-. is; filled withwater ready forzanother rotation with the roller and discharge into thefeedrreservoir: I5 inthermannerzdescribei'z It, is: thus-evident that; a quantity of water-is recurringly fed into. the-reservoir: l5--'for 'deliverm'td-thezpipe system ZByeven though-.the..water line-21? in said .rollermay: bev belowtheeaxisbf the latter.

Depending: on the type of: implement-Yin which the-invention 'iSaQIHbOdiBd; the; valve 21 may be hand. actuated; or.- automatically actuated, ,from and; in timed relation to, rotation of: theroller 1.. Inzan automatic:planting;machine, for exe ample,. the valve 2:! would be.- automatically opened-from the. roller l in timedrelation tofldee posits plants Yin-1 the. furrowopened the.- shoe 25; the planting mechanism slikewise being; driven by; andtimed from, said roller: through the medium. of the endless. chain and sprocket unit. 24

Although the. invention. is hereirrmentioned as used .in .connection with .an automatic. plant- 'ingmachine, ,it' is evident that itihascmanyv other adaptations, such as the dispensingof'liquid'fertilizer or thelike.

A further advantage of'the invention'which should be noted is the fact that the roller; serving as a liquid -supplytank avoids the necessity of such a tank, with reinforcing structure; onthe main'frame 'li Erom thepforegoing descriptioirrit will 1 be =read+ ilyzseenz thatitheret hasrheen: produced such; a device as substantiallyifulfillsz the-objects of: the invention; as set. forth herein.

-While this specification sets-forthiindetailthe present and preferred construction of the de'-:- vice; still.- in practice-such deviationssfrom such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A liquid dispensing roller structure for an implementawhi'clu includema frame: comprising a hollow roller adapted to receive -a quantity of liquid therein, means adapted to mount the roller in supporting relation to the frame, a conduit haviz-igea-fitting mounted in connection with the roller centrally at one end thereof, and means arranged: withrtheroller operative upon rotatiorr thereof to" elevate liquid from within the roller"below'tlie-"roller axis and deliver said liq- 1 uid. intor the fitting;v .said means including a plurality of circumferentially extending and spaced chambers formed on said end of the roller adjacent the periphery of the roller, said chambersts being; in communication at their; leadin ends: with. the interior: of theroller; conduits connected. with said" chambers adjacenttheir trailing: ends and" extending toward: theiaxis: of thexroller; and a: reservoir formed centrallyson the; roller at. said end. and; to'which. reservoir the lastanamed conduits connect, thewfitting bee. ing in communication witlrsuchreservoir.-

2. A liquid dispensing: roller structure: for; an implement:.whichincludes a frame, comprising a: hollow roller adapted tosreceive, a quantity- 10f liquid: therein, means: adapted." tov mount" the rollerin supporting relationsto.the'iframe;.a cone duit having a fittin mountedinrconnectioniwith the? rollercentrally; atazone: endithereof; and means-- arranged". with. the: roller: operative: upon rotation thereof: to" elevate; liquid fromrwithin' the roller below "the roller: axis anddeliven said 7 liquid: into the: fitting; said means: includin'gra plurality of circumferentially, extending;- and spaced chambersg-formedon said, :end of .:the.-- roller adjacent. the periphery; of thefroller; .saidichamz bersebeing; ina communication; at; their." leadin 7 ends with the interior of the-s'rollen; conduits connected with: said: chambers adjacent: their trailing, ends: and extendingitowardzthew of the. roller, and a a' reservoir'formed centrally: on the roller at said end andrtonwhich reservoirrthe last named conduits connect,,the.-:rollermounting'means including aztubularr shaft into which the reservoir feeds'and the fitting being inioome munication with said. shaft at .the.---adjacent. end.

3. A liquid dispensing roller structureror an implementwhich includesra: frame, comprising a hollowroller; adapted, to receive a, quantityof liquid therein, means adapted to mountv the roller, imsupporting relation tothe-frame; alplurality of circumferentially extending; andrspaced chamberspformed on. one end of. the; rollerz adjacent the periphery; of; the? roller; said chambers being in; c.ommunication,=; at. their leading ends with the interior of-the'roller,conduitsiextende ing, radially,- inward :fromzthe-trailing ends; of? the chambers aicentral reservoir: formed on saidone end-of the roller, thehonduitsrconnectingr to;said

' reservoir, andzanioutlet-fittin leading fromisaid rality of circumferentially extending and spaced chambers formed on one end of the roller adjacent the periphery of the roller, said chambers being in communication at their leading ends with the interior of the roller, conduits extending radially inward from the trailing ends of the chambers, a central reservoir formed on said one end of the roller, the conduits connecting to said reservoir, and an outlet fitting leading from said reservoir axially of the roller; there being a check valve unit in each conduit opening toward the reservoir but operative to close when the corresponding chamber is below the roller axis, and other check valve units on the chambers operative to admit air thereinto when the chambers are above said axis.

5. A liquid dispensing roller structure for an implement which includes a frame, comprising a hollow shaft journaled for rotation relative to the frame, a hollow roller fixed to the hollow shaft, a reservoir on the outside of one end wall of the drum and surrounding the shaft, means establishing communication between the reservoir and the interior of the shaft, a plurality of chambers formed on the outside of said one end of the drum in circumferentially spaced relation adjacent the outer periphery of the drum, each chamber having a leading end and a trailing end with respect to the direction of rotation 01 the drum, the end of the drum being provided with port each establishing communication between the interior of the drum and one of the chambers adjacent the leading end of the chamber, and a conduit interposed between the trailing end of each chamber and the reservoir.

6. A structure as in claim 5 including a check valve in each conduit, such valves opening in a direction away from the chambers.

7. A structure as in claim 6 including a check valve in an outside wall of each chamber adjacent the trailing end thereof and closing in a direction away from the chamber, such last named valves being effective to open communication between the atmosphere outside the drum and the interior of the chambers in one position of the drum. 7

8. A liquid dispensing roller structure for an implement which includes a frame, such structure comprising a hollow roller adapted to receive and carry a quantity of liquid therein, a tubular shaft extending through the roller concentric therewith and fixed thereto, the ends of the shaft projecting beyond the ends of the roller, means journaling the projecting ends of the shaft on the frame for rotation relative to the frame, a fitting fixed to the frame and disposed in communication with the interior of the shaft at one end thereof, a conduit leading from the fitting to a point of discharge, and conduit means interposed between the interior of the drum and the interior of the shaft and operative to convey liquid from the drum at a point below the drum axis and discharge such liquid into the shaft.

Q. A liquid dispensing roller structure for an implement which includes a frame, comprising a hollow roller adapted to receive a quantity of liquid therein, means adapted to mount the roller in supporting relation to the frame, a plurality of circumferentially extending and spaced chambers formed on one end of the roller adjacent the periphery of the roller, said chambers being in communication at their leading ends with the interior of the roller, central enclosed reservoir fixed on said one end of the roller and rotatable therewith; direct, enclosed, fixed communicating conduits between the trailing end of each chamber and the reservoir, and an outlet fitting leading from said reservoir axially of the roller.

10. A liquid dispensing roller structure for an implement which includes a frame, comprising a hollow roller adapted to receive a quantity of liquid therein, means adapted to mount the roller in supporting relation to the frame, a plurality of 'circumferentially extending and spaced chambers formed on one end of the roller adjacent the periphery of the roller, said chambers being in communication at their leading ends with the interior of the roller, a central enclosed reservoir fixed on said one end of the roller and rotatable therewith; direct, enclosed, fixed communicating conduits between the trailing end of each chamber and the reservoir, and an outlet fitting leading from said reservoir axially of the roller; said mounting means including a tubular shaft on the roller, the reservoir being in communication with the interiorof the shaft, and said outlet fitting being on one end of such shaft.

EARLE M. KING.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,664 Donahoo Apr. 29, 1890 801,627 Wunsch Oct. 10, 1905 

